A different spin on the little scandal

It was the feel good story of the summer of 2001. Well, almost.

So, Danny Almonte is really 14-years old and not 12. What a shock! The only surprise is that the Rolando Paulino Little League team didn't try to sneak Sammy Sosa and Pedro Martinez through.

Let's face it sports fans, this is not the first time that a Little League team fielded over age players. Who can forget all of those Taiwanese champions with their 12-year-old stars (ha,ha,ha). Maybe their kids were 12-years old. So, the fact that another 14-year-old slipped through the cracks is really not the big story here.

However, what in the world were Rudy Guiliani, the great Mayor of New York City, and the New York Yankees thinking when they threw a parade and a heroes welcome for the Rolando Paulino Little League team, as suspicion about Danny Almonte continued to swirl?

Information was beginning to come in from all angles that something fishy was up in the Bronx. The "Baby Bombers," weren't such babies after all.

Some people were saying that the other kids on the team should not be punished for the misdeeds of lying grown ups. I agree that the other kids should not be punished, but on the other hand, should they be rewarded? I think not.

What is the lesson that the Rolando Paulino team and other kids around the country get from the genius decisions by Guiliani and the Yankees? As long as you don't get caught, you can still be treated like heroes.

Well, maybe if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

As we speak, I am trying to recruit some really good 12-year-olds for my daughter's seven-year-old soccer team. As long as I don't get caught, her team may even win a national championship. Who knows, maybe my town will even throw her team a really cool parade.